[ratsg]

I see many reasons in the media for the current boom in silver. Some are legitmate and spot on. Others, I feel are a complete load of bull. The one that really has me scratching my head is the quoted use of silver in electronics.

During the 1990's, some of my work in the military involved electronic repair. I have also done my fair share of of computer hardware support and repair. In my personal experience, I can't honestly say that I have never seen silver used in electronic components.

Before posting this, I made an attempt to do some RTFM'ing. Currently, IMHO, this post from Wikipedia pretty much sums up my observations.

" copper has a high conductivity. Silver is more conductive, but due to cost it is not practical in most cases."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductor

My personal experiences have been that copper is used for wiring, and covered/coated to prevent oxidation. Gold, not silver, is used on contact points where components are designed to be installed and removed one or more times, because gold does not oxidize. I have seen tin for contacts on low end stuff, but that is beyond the scope of my post.

Also, from another thread on survivalistboards.com, board member Sundsvall makes this post commenting about silver in electronics. Just to qualify upfront, I am not picking on Sundsvall, it is just an example of a statement that I think is incorrect.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showpost.php?p=2723066&postcount=34

In summary, I think that there are any number of reasons why silver is at the price it is now. However, I am not convinced that it is due to usage in electronic devices.

Do you know better? Please set me straight...

 

[vicdotcom]

...
In summary, I think that there are any number of reasons why silver is at the price it is now. However, I am not convinced that it is due to usage in electronic devices.

Do you know better? Please set me straight...

Industrial demand for silver used to be a lot higher when film was still being used in cameras. Car batteries also use a little silver. I do not know if the new Hybrid batteries use more silver than conventional batteries, but I can not seeing that much increase in the demand of silver because of that. There is only a small amount of silver used even when used industrially.

I do not think that electrical components have caused to much rise in the price of silver. Especially since most of those components are silver/gold plated with a thin layer of atoms.

And water filters.... puuhhlllease the amount of silver in all of the katadyn filters put together can not be more than a few troy pounds lol

 

[Jash]

China estimates they will need 150 million ounces of silver just for the solar panel industry alone by 2014.

That's a lot of silver being used in electronics.

 

[The Saint]

I use silver perf boards for my projects.

I think silver is utilized in micro circuits because of the better conductivity.

 

[Sundsvall]

I see many reasons in the media for the current boom in silver. Some are legitmate and spot on. Others, I feel are a complete load of bull. The one that really has me scratching my head is the quoted use of silver in electronics.

During the 1990's, some of my work in the military involved electronic repair. I have also done my fair share of of computer hardware support and repair. In my personal experience, I can't honestly say that I have never seen silver used in electronic components.

Before posting this, I made an attempt to do some RTFM'ing. Currently, IMHO, this post from Wikipedia pretty much sums up my observations.

" copper has a high conductivity. Silver is more conductive, but due to cost it is not practical in most cases."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conductor

My personal experiences have been that copper is used for wiring, and covered/coated to prevent oxidation. Gold, not silver, is used on contact points where components are designed to be installed and removed one or more times, because gold does not oxidize. I have seen tin for contacts on low end stuff, but that is beyond the scope of my post.

Also, from another thread on survivalistboards.com, board member Sundsvall makes this post commenting about silver in electronics. Just to qualify upfront, I am not picking on Sundsvall, it is just an example of a statement that I think is incorrect.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showpost.php?p=2723066&postcount=34

In summary, I think that there are any number of reasons why silver is at the price it is now. However, I am not convinced that it is due to usage in electronic devices.

Do you know better? Please set me straight...

Here you go:

Silver is the best conductor of electricity, better than copper and gold.

Electronics (General: Under "uses" on the side bar to the lower right)
http://www.silverinsights.com/index.html

Semi-conductors (4th one down)
http://www.siliconfareast.com/semicon_matls.htm

Circuit boards:

Silver and Tin in Circuit boards and solder
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3776/is_200409/ai_n9415730/

Sunstone Circuits (Silver Immersion FAQ)
Silver is used over tin for high temperature resistance
http://www.sunstone.com/pcb-capabilities/lead-free-rohs/frequently-asked-questions.aspx

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
Screen printing of silver nanoparticle suspension for metal interconnects (for circuit boards)
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p35t69t31t043402/

I think Gold replaced Copper initially, then later due to lower costs, higher electronic consumption volume, superior electrical conductivity and heat transfer, Silver replaced Gold.

*Research courtesy of Kitcomm.com, SilverInsights.com and google.

 

[Sundsvall]

SilverInsights.com lists these as the primary industrial and consumer uses of silver:

(1) Monetary Metal / Coinage, Bars
(2) Batteries
(3) Bearings
(4) Brazing / Soldering
(5) Catalysts
(6) Cloud Seeding
(7) Electronics / Electrical / Electroplating
(8) Explosives
(9) Jewelry
(10) Medicine / Medical Applications
(11) Mirrors / Reflective Coatings
(12) Musical Instruments
(13) Photography
(14) RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices)
(15) Silverware
(16) Solar Energy
(17) Superconductivity
(18) Water Purification
(19) Wood Preservative

They have consumption figures for 2007.

2 Items that I read in passing that Silver Insights does not list is:

(1) Fuel! Silver Nanoparticle Suspension Increases Fuel Algae Growth 30 Percent
http://www.dailytech.com/Silver+Nan...Fuel+Algae+Growth+30+Percent/article19444.htm

(2) Clothing! Apparently silver fibers imbedded in cloth is antimicrobial and will eliminate odors from sweat.
http://www.fine-silver-productsnet.com/



Given, the list above, I have alot of confidence in the demand for silver to last through economic depression or collapse due to its industrial applications.

Hell, water purification alone, on a large scale, should be enough to ensure its value.

 

[Branned]

They say every Navy cruise missle shot has about 500oz of Silver. 162 shot at Libya alone this year would be about 81,000oz.

 

[Sundsvall]

They say every Navy cruise missle shot has about 500oz of Silver. 162 shot at Libya alone this year would be about 81,000oz.

Yeah, its still an unsubstantiated rumor. Nobody can get the original source for that info.

The rumor has morphed to include Tomahawk missiles as well.

Cruise Missile:
http://ausbullion.blogspot.com/2011/03/1650kg-of-silver-fired-at-libya-to.html
http://maxkeiser.com/2011/03/20/not...lver-in-wiring-contacts-solder-and-batteries/
http://bullioncrypt.blogspot.com/2010/05/pentagon-in-race-for-raw-materials.html

Tomahawk Missile:
http://goldbasics.blogspot.com/2011/04/500-oz-silver-in-tomahawk-missile.html
http://marketcut.com/commodities-silver/500-oz-of-silver-in-each-tomahawk-missile/

But if the missile uses circuit boards, chances are there is a good amount of silver on board.

 

[vicdotcom]

Here you go:

Silver is the best conductor of electricity, better than copper and gold.
...

Just because it conducts the best doesn't make it the "best conductor". Remember, silver oxidizes. Gold doesn't that is why better electronic equipment uses gold not silver in the circuitry.

 

[Sundsvall]

Just because it conducts the best doesn't make it the "best conductor". Remember, silver oxidizes. Gold doesn't that is why better electronic equipment uses gold not silver in the circuitry.

Its the "best" conductor of electricity as in, it has less resistance than gold or copper.

True it does oxidize. In a lot of circuit boards, they mix silver with tin and plate copper with it.

This way they get the high temp resistance, and lower weight characteristics, that gold doesn't have, as well as the low cost of silver, copper and tin.

 

[Hick Industries]

The solder used in mil spec electronics used to be lead/tin. Since the environmental nazis in California started heavily regulating lead, they have been using silver based solder. This is a minor and nonrecoverable amount per board, but it does add up when you consider who much electronic stuff is made.

The claim of cruise missiles containing many oz of silver is wrong. Some of our older missiles used silver zinc batteries, but not Tomahawk.

 

[seeya]

Just because it conducts the best doesn't make it the "best conductor". Remember, silver oxidizes. Gold doesn't that is why better electronic equipment uses gold not silver in the circuitry.

I agree, being a "better" conductor is not a reason to use it. I haven't looked it up in some time but silver is only a better conductor by a few percent. Due to this it is easier and cheaper in eletronics to increase the size of the copper run by a few percent.

On the other hand gold i used for its anti corrosion properties. When i have seen silver used in eletronics its was used in a alloy to increase hardness.

 

[Cleaner44]

Among other things I did in the Air Force, I was an Honor Graduate in my Electronic Principles Course during my technical training. One thing I learned, that has always stuck with me, is that Silver is the best conductor of electricity we have. Great stuff.

 

[Sundsvall]

I agree, being a "better" conductor is not a reason to use it. I haven't looked it up in some time but silver is only a better conductor by a few percent. Due to this it is easier and cheaper in eletronics to increase the size of the copper run by a few percent.

On the other hand gold i used for its anti corrosion properties. When i have seen silver used in eletronics its was used in a alloy to increase hardness.

I would agree with you. I have gold plated stereo cables.

I think the massive proliferation of silver is because Gold is north of $1400/oz.

 

[sbark]

Key point above..........silver oxidisies.............it slowly disappears......its gone.

and the amounts used in the majority of electronic devices are so miniscule, I've heard it doenst pay to recover.

 

[FarmerJohn]

Key point above..........silver oxidisies.............it slowly disappears......its gone.

and the amounts used in the majority of electronic devices are so miniscule, I've heard it doenst pay to recover.

I believe you get eight lbs of silver per tonn of circurt boards and several ounves of gold remember reading that somewhere dont remember where tho